Attachment for flexible shafts



` i). SFiFiLax, ATTA'GHIVIEN FOR FLEXIBLE SHAFTSV'.

M'PLIIcAT'loN man MAR 2. 39m.

l ,QZo Patented NOV. 4, 1,919.v

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

lNvENToR l 05am 5.05@ /N ATTORNEY OJSPERUNU. ATTACHMENT Fowf FL: MBL@ sums. ArjPLlcATloN mmf mm2, 1918.

L, Y 'Patented Nv."4,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY and State of New York,

naman sTaTTs PATENT @Triton OSCAR SPKERLIN G, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ROTARY SCRAPER COMPANY INC., 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

ATTACHMENT FOR FLEXIBLE SHAFTS.

LSZOJESZ.

Application filed March 2, 1918.

To all whom may concern.'

Be it known that I, OSCAR SPERLING, a citizen ofSweden, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the county, city,

have invented Certain new and useful. Improvements in Attachments for Flexible Shafts, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to couplings, such as are utilized for connecting the opposite ends of a flexible shaft with a prime mover and some implementwto be rotated thereby.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce an improved coupling of the class mentioned, which shall afford revolving supports for a flexible shaft that are spaced far apart so as to obtain a better guiding effect than heretofore and at the same time lessen the vibration upon the tool spindle and thehandle carrying the same.

A further object is to provide a construction whereby the leverage of the flexible shaft and of its conduit connection with the handle and the spindle shall be materially reduced.

Another object is the provision of a suit'A able packingat the outer end of the handle,

and means for properly retaining lubricant therein.

A still further object is the production of loose and yielding means of attachment at both ends of the flexible shaft, enabling it correctly to aline or centralize itself within its conduit or casing when the latter is bent on sharp curves.

Still another object is so to shape the coupling members at the handle ends, and likewise at the connection of the shafts conduit with the prime mover, that these parts may be freely shifted from one position to another without risk of catching against any obstructions.

A supplementary object is to make the tool carrying spindle'of such form as will insurew its positive axial alinement at all rangement that will cause the outward thrust of thefsaid spindle to be taken by the Specification of Letters Patent.

rat-@atea Nov. 4l, faire.

Serial No. 220,072.

before mentioned revolving or rotative supports. r

Again another obj ect is to furnish the said revolving supports as Well as the spindle with means operating to resist dislocation thereof in the event of an undue stress being exerted thereon.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be readily discerned upon perusal of the detailed description thereof hereinafter contained.

With all of the said objects in View the invention 'consists of the improvements, novel construction, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described, defined in the subjoined-claims, and illustrated in their preferred embodiments by the annexed drawings, wherein like elements are designated4 by 'the same reference numerals throughout the several views.

In the said drawings F igure I is a sectional elevation of the coupling members between the power-receiving end of a flexible shaft and the corresponding end of a prime mover therefor, e. g. an electric motor, the View disclosing further an improved connection between the shafts casing and the motors hoi-ming;

Fig. II is a transverse sectioirtaken on the line H II of the preceding ligure, looking in the direction pointed out by the arrows; l

Fig. III is a top plan view of a sleeve shown in longitudinal section and in end elevation, respectively, in the said Figs. I and II;

Fig. IV represents a modified construction of the combination o parts shown in Figs. I to III; 1 Fig. V is a broken longitudinal section of ythe coupling members provided between the conical outivardly-tlfiringn inner sent -the said socket both by Vlll-Vlll, also of Fig, V, viewed in the direction indicated by thev arrows Fig. XX is a detail view, in longitudinal elevation of a. key element, which the said Fig. V further illustrates in section; and

Figs. X and Xl are end views of the seid. key element, showing the opposite terminals thereof, respectively.

The reference characters A and B respectively denote the housing and driving-shaft of the prime moveigivhich may he an electric motor, as loefore intimated, or any other suitable source .of energy. ln the driving,-v shaft B, longitudinally thereof, is provided a keyway l), adapted to receive a tongue l, extending from one end oit an anchor menn-- ber 2, the opposite end oiI which has a socket 2, `wherein is entered the driven terminal ol" a flexible shaft 3. By preference, this terminal of the shaft 3 is firmly secured'vvithin being pinned and soldered thereto, as represented in Figs. l and lV. v

rllhe said lexible shaft may consist of a. set of helical, closely Wound, Wire springs, of Which the outermost one is designated ley the numeral 3, While the inner springs are respectively indicated by the compound characters 3?* and 3", all as shown in Figs. l, lV and V. rlhe several spring coils are placed inside oi' and surrounded ley a iexilole conduit or casing 4l, in the ordinary manner.

llt the poiver-receiving'end of the flexible shaft 3, its said casing, fr terminates in a ring or annulus 5, Secured thereto ley bracing or otherwise. l socket-piece tel-es over this annulus and has an abutment against the edge thereoi which feces the rim the cming. ln the embodiment of the invention exempliiied Fig; l, the soelzef 8 has e. 9, which coacts with :i vcorresporl iglyehaeed tion e, formed on bearin. aforementioned housine1 'of-the soelet is rennt" prevent it EL art ine rea aset, as t@ it from catching @instructions that might he encountered "V l "exilele shaft.

@lling of n socket is ivif with e cylin por tion lille; lation,

The said "tion oE C has formed therewith d. be in the nature on one'sidc, as et can loe clit-dined ngel oil a pin lf3, carried by portion a the 1housing A. ment is such that a t is in the direction oi the -pin tigit tion. sly, the angel slot ll. runs e Whica the rubbing action walls of the .casing 4 vvill be transmitted to the lsocket 8, whereby there is maintained a constant tendency for this socket totighten itself in place. To release the socket from the said portion a of the housing, it is merely the housin.

lln lig. lV is illustrated a modified form of socket 8*,provided With internal screwthreads 9", which are made to engage a correspndingly threaded portion alo' a housmg "1n y Y. l

At the other end oir the deiliihle shaft, lthe casing L thereoil is sweatedl into a tapered shank 20, et a coupling member 2l, which includes` an externally vthreaded'shell or cylindrical extension. 22, terminating beyond its screw-threads' in an annular abutting portion 23, and atl'ording an interior chamber or recess 'Elie shell 22 is received within an enlarged, internally-threaded sleeve oortion 25, ot a tubular handle 26, the-opposite end whereof is also 'provided with a similar es v sleeve portion 27, lilrevvise enlarged and internally threaded, but preferably of shorter length.-

lfvVi'thin the two said sleeves 25, 27, et the inner ends thereof, are resses 28, 29, of annular formation end coaxial therewith. These ,recesses are of lessdiarneter than 'the sleeves, lout oi' larger si'ze than the. internal here 30 ol" the handle 26, sothat shoulders 3l end 32 are formed et the meeting points with the here. lxternally, Where the circumferential surfaces of the sleeves join or merge into the intervening periphery .of the handle, the latter is formed with oppositely tnpered portions end 35, which enable it to loe drawn oostructions Without catching against the eene, in either-direction.

A olar recesses 28 'end-29,

o -friction hea As ol: ari

gs conteining one or halls, as 3? and 88a. ained in the recess 28, lder 3l,"ny the previously n tin oortion 28 of t1 e shell ine race 3o s similarly held against Ker and `wil-thin the recess 29, 2, extern l f threaded as rn; l t cade or the r face f ensei2 is prosni'ahie holes, ,gior tine infanner or pin-wiench. As plug ie forme-d with e eceive a packing; ring i8,

lille material..

its external i, con ti'tutes avides hears against 'eed #20 rau lar he ,race

ne Wall.

38, through the medium of an interposed washer 45, that prevents interference of the packing-ring 43 with the bearing balls 38a.

Coacting with the outer races 37 and 38, through the intermediary of the bearing balls 37- and 38, are inner races 37 b and 38h, which are forced over shouldered portions 48 and 49, of a spindle 50. At the outer end of the latter is formed a head 51, which has a threaded recess 52, adapted to receive the shank of a rotary implement (not shown). The head 51 is provided with oppositely flattened portions 53, Fig. VI, peryinitting application thereto of a wrench when entering the said implement or removing it. The Juncture between the said head and the forward end of the spindle 50 is formed with a liberal fillet 54, and the inner front edge of the hollow plug 39 is correspondingly rounded or chamfered to reduce friction between these parts when the thrust on the head is inward or toward the handle, as well as to increase the-strength of the spindle at that point. The opposite end of the latter, beyond the shoulder 48, is threaded as at 57, and a flanged collar 58 is screwed thereon. The outwardly facing hub portion of this collar is made to abut against the inner ball race 37", so as to hold the same against its shoulder 48, on the spindle 50, while its flanged portion is slightly relieved in order that it may stand away from the outer race 37, unless an outward pull' be exerted upon the spindle, for instance, if the implement held in the head 51 happened to be tangled in the work and the operator were to try and wrench it free. Itmight then occur that the inner races 37b and 38') would be stripped from their bearing balls, if no provision were made to prevent it, but in that event the flanged portion of the collar 58 would encounter the outer race 37 and preclude such a condition taking place. A small screw 59 is tapped into the inner end of the collar 58 with its head counterbored into the inner end of both the collar and the spindle, to hold the latter from turning on the screw threads 57.

The power delivery end of the flexible shaft is provided also with a tongue 1 and socket 2a, similar to those pertaining to the power-receiving end thereof, and hereinbefore described. The inner terminal of the spindle 50 is formed with a seat 60, of suitable shape to receive the said tongue. This seat is made by drilling an axially extended hole in the spindle, and a key 6l, shown in detail in Figs. IX, X and XI, is forced into the same. The key 61 is made from stock that is originally of the round shape indicated at 62 and 62, which is then turned down to a smaller cylindrical body 63, leaving a head of the size 62, 62a at one end thereof. Next a portion is cut away, as at 64, all the way out to the other extremity of the body 63, so that akey is formed, including this small cylindrical portion 63, the semi-cylindrical portion `61`of same diameter, and the larger semi-cylindrical head 62. The inner end of the spindle is cut away as represented at 65, Fig. V to receive the head 62, which is thus held from rotation, while the portion 63 prevents the key from sagging down. When the latter is forced and sweated into the spindle, there is no `danger of its becoming loose or shaky. The end 62 of the key is threaded correspondingly to the threads 57 to receive the collar 58.

An oil-hole 69 is provided in one side of the handle 26, to facilitate the'- injection of lubricant into its internal bore 30. This hole is threaded for the reception of a screwplug 70, the inner end whereof is cut away for approximately one-half of its thickness, as indicated at 71. `The diminished portion thereby produced on the inner end of the screw-plug is adapted to carry a stop, which may be in the nature of a split-pin 72. Constructed in this way, the plug 70 may be partly unscrewed and sufficiently raised to permit the squirting of oil into the bore. of I the handle, and still there will be no danger of its becoming detached.

The anchor members 2, at both ends of the flexible shaft, stand away from the proximate extremities of the spindle 50 and driving-shaft B, respectively, so that` thesaid flexible shaft is enabled to centralize itself within its con-duit or casing 4, even though the latter be bent sharply. Excessive friction between the flexible shaft and the internal surface of its envelop is thus avoided. At the same time the tongues 1 can slide to and fro to a limited extent within their respective seats. The recess 24 -in the shell 22 and the bore 30 of the handle 26 form chambers that provide ample reservoirs for lubricant, which can 'surge back and forth bet-Ween the said chambers and the flexible conduit.

`While a certain preferred embodiment of this device has been shown and described, it will be understood that changes in the form, arrangements, sizes, proportions and details thereof may be made without dem of a prime mover, including a substantially conical element on the latter, a coupling member formed with a correspondingly shaped interior seating surface adapted to engage said element, and means serving to tighten said member on the element while their engagement is being effected.

' slidable over said member,

'2. An attachment a'ording an adjustable connection between the housing of a prime over and the casing of a flexible shaft, includingza. tapering vabutment on said housing, a coupling member loosely engaging one end of said casing and provided with an interior Haring surface adapted to take over said abutment, and wedging means on the latter and said member coperating to draw the lsame tightly together.

3. An attachment affording a connection quickly effected and severed between the casing oa flexible/shaft and the frame of a prime mover, including a Iconical protuberance on said frame, a coupling with a correspondingly shaped internal lsurface ar- /fanged to slide onto said protuberance, and coacting receiving and retaining means pei'- ta-ining to said coupling and the protuberance whereby the same are locked together by partial rota-tion of one over the other.

4. An attachment permitting a readily established connection between the stationary part of aprirne mover and the casing of a flexible shaft, including a substantially conical plug member projecting from said part, a. coupling formed with an interior seat and a retaining element on the latter positioned to enter an angular slot in said coupling, said element exerting against an inclined edge of said slot a .Wedging action produced by partly rotating the coupling over the )lug member.

5. An attachment for operatively uniting the driving shaft ot' a prime mover, a flexible shaft and the casing therefor, a tool supporting spindle, and a carrier for the latter,

including couplings respectively joining a stationary part ot' the prime mover to one end of said casing, and the other end therevof with said carrier, and slidable connections permitting endwise plmT of the terminals of said flexible shaft relatively to both said driving shaft and said tool supporting spindle.

6. An attachment eiiccting nf'orking engagement between a tool supporting spindle, a carrier therefor, a flexible shaft with a relatively stationary conduit therearound, and the driving` shaft ot' a primer mover, including` members to which the opposite extremities of said flexible shattare respectively anchored each at apredetermined distance from-said spindle and said driving shaft, torsion transn'iitting elements extending from said members so as to slide axially into longitudinal recesses provided in the spindle and the drivinc shaft respectively, and couplings connecting said carrier Vith one end oi" said conduit.. and the other end thereof with a fixed part oi" the prime-mover, the arrangement being such as to permit centralixing ot the -rfiexible sli-aft within the conduit irrespectire.oii any abrupt bends to "which the latter may be subjected.

a exible shaft casing,

thereof, outer ball races positioned oppositely to said inner races each against an abutment formed inside said handle, bearing balls interposed between the: inner and the outer races, retaining members engagina the ends -of the handle and arranged to ear upon the outer races on the sides thereof remote from their respective abutments, one

of said members serving to take the inward thrust of the spindle at the tool supporting end thereof, and a thrust taking element on the inner'end of the spindle located intei-,

mediately of the flexible shaft and the adjacent inner race, said element being capable of contacting with the corresponding outer race when an excessive outward pull is exerted upon the spindle.

8. An attachment for connecting a tool supporting spindle, a carrier therefor, and including a handle having a contracted central part and enlarged end portions, the latter being provided With annular recesses and threaded extremities adjacent thereto, outer ball races lodged in said recesses against abutments formed contiguous to said contracted part, -inner ball races set against similar abutments on said spindle, bearing balls interposed betiveen said outer and said inner races, a plug member through Which the outer end of the spindle passes engaging the corresponding extremity of said handle in position to hold the adjoining outer race up to its abutment, a coupling member for said casing engaging the. opposite extremity of the handle around the inner end of the spindle so as to maintain the outer race against the abutment therefor, and a collar on the last mentioned end of the spindle bearing against the inner race at said end, said collar being capable of transmitting an excessive out-ward thrust of the spindle to the proximate outer race.

9. 2in attachment for connectinga flexible shaft, it-s casing, a tool supporting spindle, and a carrier therefor, including a helio-W handle serving as a container for lubricant, said handle haring an internally threaded end and a recess adjoining the same, a bail bearing lodged in said recess so as to rest at' its inner side against an abutment in the handle, aivasher encircling said spindle on the opposite side o said bearing, a recessed plug member 'faking over the spindle between a head thereon and said washer, said member engaging said threaded end of the ha die and forcing the Washer against said bearing, a j vaciring confined between Ywasher and the recessed face of the niemeer in contact with the spindle to prevent escape f of the lubricant at that point, and means for uniting the spindle with said fleXlble shaft within the opposite` end of the handle permitting free flow of the lubricant to said casing.

l0. An attachment for connecting a tool supporting spindle, a carrier there-for, a flexible shaft and its casing, including a hollow handle provided with `an internally threaded end and a recess.contiguous thereto, a ball-bearing having its outer portion received in said recess against an abutment in said handle-and taking over said spindle at the end thereof remote from the tool, a coupling for said casing in engagement with said threaded end of the handle and pressing against said outer portion of the4 bearing, means for joining said flexible shaft to said remote end of the spindle interiorly of said coupling, a collar threaded on the sameend of the spindle against theinner portion of the ball-bearing and extending also over its said outer portion, and means for locking said collar against rotation on the spindle.

11. An attachment for uniting a flexible shaft with a tool supporting spindle and a carrier ,for the same, includingJ a hollow handle, an anti-friction bearing in said handle carrying the end of said spindle remote from the tool, a slidable connection between said flexible shaft and the spindle entering a bore in the latter, a key-element'lodg'ed within said bore at one side of said connec tion, said element having` reversely disposed projections serving to maintain the elementagainst lateral and rotative displacement, and a collar taking over said remote end of the spindle eXteriorly of the'outer one of said projections in contact with the adjacent side of said anti-friction bearing.

12. An attachment for connecting a flexible shaft with a tool supporting spindle and a tubular carrier handle inclosing the same,

including inner and outer races with bearing balls therebetween, the inner ball races being carried by said spindle near the Aopposite ends thereof and the outer races positioned oppositely to the said inner races each against an abutment formed inside said handle, and retaining members arranged to bear upon the outer races Qn the sides thereofI remote from their respective abutments.

13. An attachment for connecting a flexible shaft with a tool supporting spindle and a tubular carrier handle inclosing the same,

'including inner and outer races with antifriction elements therebetween, the inner races being carried by said spindle near the opposite extremities thereof and the outery races positioned oppositely to the said inner races each against an abutment formed inside said handle, retaining members arranged'to bear upon the outer races on the sides thereof remote from their respective' abutments, and means on the inner end Of the spindle capable of contacting with the corresponding outer race when an excessive outward thrust is exerted on the spindle.

14. An attachment for connecting a flexible shaft its casing and a tool supporting spindle, including a carrier handle having a contracted central part and enlarged annular recesses with threaded terminals, antifriction bearings in said handle comprising inner races carried by said spindle and outer races received in said recesses against abutments formed. by' said contracted part, a member surrounding the outer end of the spindle and engaging the corresponding terminal of the handle so as to hold the adjoining louter race up to its abutment, and another member entering the other terminal of the handle to maintain the opposite outer race against the abutment therefor, the latter serving as a coupling for said casing.

15. An attachment for connecting a flexibie shaft its casing and a tool supporting spindle, including a carrier handle having a contracted centrall part and enlarged annular recesses with threaded terminals, .antifriction bearings in saidhandle comprising inner races carried by said spindle and outer races received in said recesses against abutments formed by said contracted part` a member surrounding the outer end of the spindle and engaging the corresponding terminal of the handle so as to hold the ad-' joining outer race up to its abutment, anothermember entering the other terminal of the handle to maintain the opposite. outer race against the abutment therefor, the latter named member serving as a coupling for said casing, and a collar `at the inner end of the spindle capable of transmitting an eX- cess outward thrust to the proximate outer race. l j

16. An attachment for connecting a l'leXible shaft with a tool supporting spindle, including a hollow carrier handle serving` as a container for lubricant, said handle being recessed at one end, an antifriction bearing lodged in the recess at said end of the handle against an abutment therein, a member taking over the spindle between a head thereon and said bearing, a packing confined between the member and the bearing in contact with the spindle, and means intermediate of said packing and the bearing to prevent the former from interfering with the latter.

17. An attachment for connecting a tool supporting spindle with a flexible shaft and its casing, including a hollow carrier handle having a recess at one end, an anti-friction bearing the outer portionv whereof is received in said recess against an abutment in said handle and takes overI said spindle relmotely from the tool carried thereby, a coupng being arranged 'o had )il ccamectio between said Hexble sha and sald spmce am? femote and of the smn'de, au@ a collar ou and a Kay-mein@ iodged within said bom :l bore in the afateg' he same and of the spne a( mais@ t@ con` 3:5 one side said connection, said @lment- 

